Nourish
Six Healthy Reasons to Head Outside
Summer is here and nature is calling! Answer that call and you’ll reap some serious physical and mental benefits. Here are six great reasons to take it outside:
It’s a workout booster.
Have you ever noticed that exercising al fresco feels less like a workout and more like play? The pure joy of moving outside can help you stick to your fitness commitments; in fact, studies show that people tend to work out more, and for longer periods of time, when they add outdoor workouts into their exercise mix. That’s why our barre3 Anywhere Challenge is filled with fun 10-minute outdoor workouts.
It provides Vitamin D.
This “sunshine vitamin” is essential for stronger bones, inflammation reduction and improved immune function. However, it can be tricky to get enough from your diet alone because so few foods naturally carry it. Just a few minutes in the sunshine is all you need for a healthy dose of Vitamin D.
It lifts your mood.
Did you know that just five minutes of exercise in a green space is enough to make you happier and less stressed? The effect may be due to a fresh-air oxygen boost, which encourages production of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. Whatever the cause, getting outside is a great way to blow off steam.
It can improve your focus.
According to a study published in Psychological Science, interacting with nature gives your brain a break from everyday stimulation, which can have a restorative affect and help you focus. Whenever Amy LeClerc, our VP of Sales and Marketing, has trouble concentrating, she takes a quick 10-minute walk outside. She comes back ready to tackle her to-do list.
It can help you sleep.
Spending too much time inside away from natural light can throw off your body’s internal clock and disrupt your sleep pattern. Exposure to sunlight can recalibrate your sleep cycle, leading to improved snoozing.
It increases creativity.
The tendency to constantly multitask actually overworks parts of the brain that end up suppressing artistic and inventive thoughts; a study at the University of Utah found that spending just four days immersed in the outdoors can as much as double your creativity.
Spending time outside doesn’t have to be an all-day production; it could be as simple as eating your lunch outdoors or busting out one of our 10-minute workouts at the local park. So grab your sunscreen, fill up your water bottle, and go outside and play. We promise your body and your brain will thank you for it.
What’s your favorite activity to do outside? Share in the comments below!
Summer is here and nature is calling! Answer that call and you’ll reap some serious physical and mental benefits. Here are six great reasons to take it outside:
It’s a workout booster.
Have you ever noticed that exercising al fresco feels less like a workout and more like play? The pure joy of moving outside can help you stick to your fitness commitments; in fact, studies show that people tend to work out more, and for longer periods of time, when they add outdoor workouts into their exercise mix. That’s why our barre3 Anywhere Challenge is filled with fun 10-minute outdoor workouts.
It provides Vitamin D.
This “sunshine vitamin” is essential for stronger bones, inflammation reduction and improved immune function. However, it can be tricky to get enough from your diet alone because so few foods naturally carry it. Just a few minutes in the sunshine is all you need for a healthy dose of Vitamin D.
It lifts your mood.
Did you know that just five minutes of exercise in a green space is enough to make you happier and less stressed? The effect may be due to a fresh-air oxygen boost, which encourages production of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. Whatever the cause, getting outside is a great way to blow off steam.
It can improve your focus.
According to a study published in Psychological Science, interacting with nature gives your brain a break from everyday stimulation, which can have a restorative affect and help you focus. Whenever Amy LeClerc, our VP of Sales and Marketing, has trouble concentrating, she takes a quick 10-minute walk outside. She comes back ready to tackle her to-do list.
It can help you sleep.
Spending too much time inside away from natural light can throw off your body’s internal clock and disrupt your sleep pattern. Exposure to sunlight can recalibrate your sleep cycle, leading to improved snoozing.
It increases creativity.
The tendency to constantly multitask actually overworks parts of the brain that end up suppressing artistic and inventive thoughts; a study at the University of Utah found that spending just four days immersed in the outdoors can as much as double your creativity.
Spending time outside doesn’t have to be an all-day production; it could be as simple as eating your lunch outdoors or busting out one of our 10-minute workouts at the local park. So grab your sunscreen, fill up your water bottle, and go outside and play. We promise your body and your brain will thank you for it.
What’s your favorite activity to do outside? Share in the comments below!
